8 → see also padding
▸ pad out PHRASAL VERB If you pad out a piece of writing or a speech with unnecessary words or pieces of information, you include them in it to make it longer and hide the fact that you have not got very much to say. □ [V P n + with ] The reviewer padded out his review with a lengthy biography of the author. [Also V n P ]
pa d|ded ce ll (padded cells ) N‑COUNT A padded cell is a small room with padded walls in a mental hospital or prison, where a person who may behave violently can be put so that they do not hurt themselves.
pad|ding /pæ d I ŋ/
1 N‑UNCOUNT Padding is soft material which is put on something or inside it in order to make it less hard, to protect it, or to give it a different shape. □ …the foam rubber padding on the headphones. □ Players must wear padding to protect themselves from injury.
2 N‑UNCOUNT Padding is unnecessary words or information used to make a piece of writing or a speech longer. □ …the kind of subject that politicians put in their speeches for a bit of padding.
pad|dle /pæ d ə l/ (paddles , paddling , paddled )
1 N‑COUNT A paddle is a short pole with a wide flat part at one end or at both ends. You hold it in your hands and use it as an oar to move a small boat through water. □ We might be able to push ourselves across with the paddle.
2 VERB If you paddle a boat, you move it through water using a paddle. □ [V n] …the skills you will use to paddle the canoe. □ [V prep/adv] …paddling around the South Pacific in a kayak.
3 VERB If you paddle , you walk or stand in shallow water, for example at the edge of the sea, for pleasure. □ [V ] Wear sandals when you paddle. □ [V prep] …a lovely little stream that you can paddle in. ● N‑SING Paddle is also a noun. □ Ruth enjoyed her paddle.
pa d|dle boat (paddle boats ) N‑COUNT A paddle boat or a paddle steamer is a large boat that is pushed through the water by the movement of large wheels that are attached to its sides.
pa d|dling pool (paddling pools ) N‑COUNT A paddling pool is a shallow artificial pool for children to paddle in. [BRIT ] in AM, use wading pool
pad|dock /pæ dək/ (paddocks )
1 N‑COUNT A paddock is a small field where horses are kept. □ The family kept horses in the paddock in front of the house.
2 N‑COUNT In horse racing or motor racing, the paddock is the place where the horses or cars are kept just before each race.
pad|dy /pæ di/ (paddies ) N‑COUNT A paddy or a paddy field is a field that is kept flooded with water and is used for growing rice. □ …the paddy fields of China.
pad|lock /pæ dlɒk/ (padlocks , padlocking , padlocked )
1 N‑COUNT A padlock is a lock which is used for fastening two things together. It consists of a block of metal with a U-shaped bar attached to it. One end of the bar is released by turning a key in the lock. □ They had put a padlock on the door of his flat.
2 VERB If you padlock something, you lock it or fasten it to something else using a padlock. □ [V n] Eddie parked his cycle against a lamp post and padlocked it. [Also V n + to ]
pa|dre /pɑː dre I / (padres ) N‑COUNT A padre is a Christian priest, especially one who works with the armed forces. [INFORMAL ] □ Could I speak to you in private a moment, padre.
paean /piː ən/ (paeans ) N‑COUNT A paean is a piece of music, writing, or film that expresses praise, admiration, or happiness. [LITERARY ] □ [+ to ] …a paean to deep, passionate love.
pae|dia|tri|cian /piː diətr I ʃ ə n/ (paediatricians ) in AM, use pediatrician N‑COUNT A paediatrician is a doctor who specializes in treating sick children.
pae|di|at|rics /piː diæ tr I ks/ The spelling pediatrics is used in American English. The forms paediatric and pediatric are used as modifiers. N‑UNCOUNT Paediatrics is the area of medicine that is concerned with the treatment of children's illnesses.
pae|do|phile /piː dəfa I l/ (paedophiles ) in AM, use pedophile N‑COUNT A paedophile is a person, usually a man, who is sexually attracted to children.
pae|do|philia /piː dəf I liə/ in AM, use pedophilia N‑UNCOUNT Paedophilia is sexual activity with children or the condition of being sexually attracted to children.
pa|el|la /pa I e lə/ (paellas ) N‑VAR Paella is a dish cooked especially in Spain, which consists of rice mixed with small pieces of vegetables, fish, and chicken.
paeo|ny /piː əni/ → see peony
pa|gan /pe I gən/ (pagans )
1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Pagan beliefs and activities do not belong to any of the main religions of the world and take nature and a belief in many gods as a basis. They are older, or are believed to be older, than other religions.
2 N‑COUNT [oft N n] In former times, pagans were people who did not believe in Christianity and who many Christians considered to be inferior people. □ The new religion was eager to convert the pagan world.
pa|gan|ism /pe I gən I zəm/ N‑UNCOUNT Paganism is pagan beliefs and activities. □ The country swayed precariously between Christianity and paganism.
page ◆◆◆ /pe I dʒ/ (pages , paging , paged )